qearon



(No Model.)

J. GEARON.

RAILROAD TIE.

Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

INVBNTOR .32

wITNEssEs' m ATTORNEYS.

N, PEIERS. Phutoljlhogmphsr. wminpon. n. c.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN GEARON, OF ALTA, IOVA, ASSIGNOR TO H. V. 85 T. SLU"Z, OF SAME PLACE.

RAILROAD-TIE.

:EBPECIIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,057, dated March 16, 1886.

Application filed October 16, 1865. Serial No. 180,085. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN GEARON, of Alt-a, in the county of Buena Vista and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Railroad-Tie, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved railroad-tie, which forms a continuous rail-bed and protects the bed to from the injurious effects of water, and also prgvents the growth of weeds-850., on the rail- The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts and details, as will be fully described and .set forth hereinafter,

and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingv a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate no corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved ra-il-tie, showing the same in use. Fig. 2 is plan view of the same, parts being broken out and others being in section.

The improved sleeper or tie consists of a channel-bar, A, made of iron or steel, and provided on the edges of the flanges B with the outwardly-projecting flanges C.

The entire road-bed is covered with my improved ties, the same being placed alternately,

with the shanks or flanges B projecting upward and downward, as shown.

The several ties interlock, the flanges 0 of the upper ties, A, resting on the upper sur- 5 face of the lower ties, and the flanges O of the lower ties rest against the under sides of the top ties.

The flanges B of the several ties are in contact, and are held securely together by the U 0 shaped bolts D, passed through two flanges, B,

in contact, and through a clip-plate, E, resting against the outer surface of the flange 'B of an upper tie. Each clip-plate has a hook, F, which overlaps the base G of the rail H,

4 5 the said hooks F catching the railbase alternately at opposite sides of the rail, whereby the rail is held very securely on the ties.

The united ties form a solid and firm support for the rails; the rails cannot shift in any manner; the support is elastic; the several ties are securely united, but can be disconnected very easily and rapidly when necessary, and the tie and its fastening devices are simple in construction.

The ties form a complete covering for the road-bed, and prevent injury to the same by rain or other water, as all the water must flow to the ends of the sleepers and then off. The lower channel bars or ties, A, form transverse gutters, which are water-tight and carry off 6) the water immediately. Vashing out, loosening, and undermining the road-bed by water is thus avoided completely and eifectivel y.

The ties united in the manner shown and described also prevent the growth of weeds 6 and other plants on the road-bed and between the ties. As the water is prevented from flowing into the road-bed, the frost cannot raise and injure the bed, as is the case where stone or sand ballast is used.

My improved rail-tie forms a water and fire proof covering or protection for bridges.

As the entire road-bed is covered by a bearing-surface supporting the rails, my improved ties will not settle as rapidly as the ties gener- 7 ally used.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A railroad-bed covered by a series of united U-shaped metal ties placed alternately with the shanks projecting upward and downward, the shanks of one tie passing into the recess of the other tie, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with a series of U- shaped railroad-ties placed alternately with the shanks projecting upward and downward and completely covering the road-bed, of rails resting on the ties, and of holding-clips on the 0 sides of the ties for holding the rails on said ties, substantially as herein shown and de scribed.

3. The combination. with a series of U- shaped railroad-ties, of rails on the same, and 5 U shaped bolts passed through the sides ofihe ties and through rail-fastening clips placed on the outer surfaces of the sides of the ties, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination, with a series of U 10 shaped railroadties, of rails on the same, and U shaped bolts passed through the sides of the ties and through fastening-clips placed on the shaped railroad-ties, A, having theexterior sides of the ties, which clips have hooks catehflanges, O, on the edges of the flanges B, the ing on the base of the rail, substantially as flanges O of one tie resting against the base or herein shown and described. body plate of the next ties, of rails on the 15 5 5. The combination, with asheet-meta1 cov- I tops of the upper ties, and of fastening devices ering covering the entire road-bed and havfor holding the rails on the ties, substantially i'ng transverse raised parts, of rails on said as herein shown and described;

raised parts, and fastening devices for holds 4 JOHN 4 ing the rails on the raised parts, substantially Witnesses: I0 as herein shown and described. W'M. H. COX,

' 6. The combination with a series of U- C. J. JOHNSON. 

